Just Sayin' Caledonhttp://justsayincaledon.com
Wed, 21 Feb 2018 13:09:59 +0000en-UShourly1Carine Strong: Volunteerism Personifiedhttp://justsayincaledon.com/carine-strong-volunteerism-personified/
http://justsayincaledon.com/carine-strong-volunteerism-personified/#commentsWed, 21 Feb 2018 13:09:59 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8980Forty years ago, as a new bride, Carine Strong (pictured above in blue) said good-bye to her loving family in Flanders, Belgium, and moved to Bolton, ON. Although her husband Bob and his family were very supportive she found herself, as a newcomer, sometimes feeling lonely. “But people here were so welcoming and caring” she […]

]]>Forty years ago, as a new bride, Carine Strong (pictured above in blue) said good-bye to her loving family in Flanders, Belgium, and moved to Bolton, ON. Although her husband Bob and his family were very supportive she found herself, as a newcomer, sometimes feeling lonely. “But people here were so welcoming and caring” she recalls. “As soon I was settled I wanted to give back.”

Strong’s father had always demonstrated a sense of community, often saying “you only get one life, so make it count and use it wisely.” In fact, she wears his watch everyday as a reminder. And this drove the new Caledon resident to take on major volunteer roles over the years with Family Transition Place, both the King and the Vera Davis Nursing Homes in Bolton, and Holy Family Parish, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister.

For the past 15 years she has also held a variety of volunteer roles with Caledon Community Services. More recently she has focused on Board commitments. “I love inspiring people by sharing how I found my purpose in life through volunteerism. In that capacity, I am also a proud member of the United Way Speakers’ Bureau” she adds.

Majoring in Linguistics and Business Management, Strong had landed her first job fairly soon after she came to Canada, as a translator at Husky Injection Molding Systems in Bolton.

“Early on I realized that the philanthropic values of Husky were very much aligned with my own beliefs of giving back. Robert Schad was always a tough but fair leader and he delivered on his promises to care for his staff, the environment, and to give back to the community where he operated his business” she explained.

It was a relationship that would last for almost 30 years as she progressively worked through senior management positions in the fields of Customer and Community Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility, Marketing and Communications, Travel/Event Management and Global Purchasing.

Everything changed in 2007 when Schad sold Husky to Onex, an investment firm who soon made it clear their main focus was to make the company lean, and prepare it for a resale and generate substantial profit in the process. Strong was one of the first casualties. “The day I received my walking papers turned out to be both the worst and the best day of my life. Overnight, I lost my confidence and sense of purpose but I also realized that I needed that experience to really evaluate what was important to me and what was going to make me happy. I no longer wanted to pour my heart, soul, and dedication into a corporate career. It was my commitment to volunteering that came to the rescue” she admits.

Strong decided to, as a volunteer, manage Chez Thrift, a second-hand clothing store and social enterprise of Caledon Community Services. Chez Thrift, recently rebranded as Evolve Clothing, is a fundraising program of Caledon Community Services, and it was struggling at that time to generate enough proceeds to in turn support a variety of community service programs for seniors, youth, newcomers and crisis support. She worked 6 days a week as a volunteer during which time sales, and therefore proceeds, increased substantially.

A few months later an opportunity arose to start Volunteer Mississauga Brampton Caledon (MBC). Together, the United Way of Peel and the Region of Peel had commissioned the late John Huether to conduct research and create a report to determine whether there was a need for a Volunteer Centre in Peel and if so, what that should look like. Subsequently, a decision was made to recruit an Executive Director to create and build the Volunteer Centre using the report’s recommendations as the foundation.

To prepare for the interview Strong had to create a business plan, budget, initial marketing and communications material including a logo. “I used the picture of a little statue my aunt gave me when I came to Canada” she smiles. “It really captured the essence of what I envisioned: Build a Volunteer Centre for Peel Region residents and community service organizations that was dedicated to connecting, serving and helping people.” Needless to say she got the job.

As the Executive Director she describes Volunteer MBC as “a conduit for good, as the matchmaker, the one-stop shop, connecting people to community organizations where they can help others and where, in turn, they end up helping themselves. We bring remarkable people and causes together. Together volunteers build a better tomorrow for our children and so the tagline became: the future rests in your helping hands.”

She describes a belief that non-profit organizations are on a mission to improve lives and create a better world and that the volunteers that hope to join them also want to change the world and make a difference. “It’s imperative that they are able to find each other. That’s where we come in, using our online referral database that houses hundreds of volunteer opportunities. Or they can utilize our personal consultation service at any of our locations” she explains.

Volunteer MBC serves the entire region of Peel from their head office in Brampton, and 3 satellite locations in Caledon and in Mississauga.

In Caledon they partner with the Caledon Public Library, offering their referral service at the Bolton Branch as well as the Caledon East location, where they work closely with Robert F. Hall students to find them meaningful volunteer opportunities. “Volunteer MBC is committed to providing a meaningful volunteer experience, mutually beneficial for the volunteer and the non-profit organization, hence our Learning Centre, where we offer in person training and e-learning” says Strong.

“Volunteering allowed me to give back, and to help others, but I was also able to help myself so much in the process. I was able to get my confidence, self-esteem, health, and personal happiness back. And it opened the door to a career in the non-profit sector” she concludes.

]]>http://justsayincaledon.com/carine-strong-volunteerism-personified/feed/1World Day of Prayer at Bolton Unitedhttp://justsayincaledon.com/world-day-prayer-bolton-united/
http://justsayincaledon.com/world-day-prayer-bolton-united/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 03:24:21 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8977WORLD DAY OF PRAYER AT BOLTON UNITED CHURCH The World Day of Prayer service will be held on Friday, March 2nd, 2018 at 1:30 pm. at the Bolton United Church, 8 Nancy Street, Bolton. Five local churches participate together in this service – Holy Family, Caven Presbyterian, Christ Church, Palgrave United and Bolton United. This […]

The World Day of Prayer service will be held on Friday, March 2nd, 2018 at 1:30 pm. at the Bolton United Church, 8 Nancy Street, Bolton.

Five local churches participate together in this service – Holy Family, Caven Presbyterian, Christ Church, Palgrave United and Bolton United. This year the service has been written by the women of The Republic of Suriname, which lies in the northeastern part of South America. Dutch is the official language and the population is approximately 540,000 from many cultures and indigenous peoples.

The theme is “All God’s Creation is Very Good”. Everyone is welcome to attend this worship service at Bolton United Church and to stay for a cup of tea with friends.

]]>http://justsayincaledon.com/world-day-prayer-bolton-united/feed/0Two Break and Enters in Caledonhttp://justsayincaledon.com/two-break-enters-caledon/
http://justsayincaledon.com/two-break-enters-caledon/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 03:01:56 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8975On Friday, February 16, 2018 members from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were dispatched to 2 break and enters on Horseshoe Hill Road – 1 north of Olde Base Line Road and 1 north of Charleston Sideroad. In both cases, the home owner arrived home to find that their front door had […]

]]>On Friday, February 16, 2018 members from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were dispatched to 2 break and enters on Horseshoe Hill Road – 1 north of Olde Base Line Road and 1 north of Charleston Sideroad.

In both cases, the home owner arrived home to find that their front door had been forced open. In 1 of the break & enters, no property was reported stolen from the residence. In the other case, the victim reported a laptop, clothing, and some personal effects stolen.

Police would like to remind residents of the following security information advice provided by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services:

Doors, frames and locks are the interrelated basics of home security and are equally important when considering the security of your home. To be sure that you and your family are protected adequately, make sure that the following security measures are in place.

Door Security

Making the access doors secure is an important step in protecting your home. Good, solid doors improve your chances in keeping burglars out. When purchasing a door, you should enquire about what the door is made of and how heavy it is. Look for doors without windows or doors that do not have windows within arm’s reach of the inside lock and handle.

Locks

A secure lock is an important step in keeping a burglar out of your home. A deadbolt lock should be placed on all access doors including the door that provides access to your home from the garage. Locks should be: pick-resistant, drill-resistant, saw resistant, twist-resistant, minimum of 2.5 cm (1 inch) long when thrown, and inter-locking bolts should be a minimum of 5.6 cm (2 ¼ inches).

Frames

The doorframe is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of home security. Even the best locks can be rendered ineffective if basic measures are not undertaken to reinforce the frame. To make sure that your frame provides adequate security, a security strike plate should be installed with screws that are at least 2 ½ inches in length.

Your home is one of the most important investments you will ever make in your life. Please review your home security to find out whether or not your home is vulnerable and make improvements where need be. Caledon OPP encourages residents to be proactive to make your home less appealing to burglars and to discourage criminals from setting foot on your property.

Anyone with information regarding these break & enters are asked to contact Detective Constable Steve Linton of the Community Street Crime Unit of the Caledon OPP detachment at (905) 584-2241 or toll free at 1-888-310-1122.

You can also provide information anonymously by contacting Peel Crime Stoppers at: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by texting 274637 (CRIMES) with the words “PEEL plus your tip information”, or online at www.peelcrimestoppers.ca. When you contact Crime Stoppers you stay anonymous, you never have to testify, and you could receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 upon an arrest.

A FREE Friday night drop in activity at the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness in Bolton.

For youth 10 – 17 years old

From 7:00 to 10:00 pm – EVERY Friday night, all year long!

The Youth Centre/Youth Lounge with all of its amenities – rock climbing, skateboarding, skee ball, foosball, ping pong, air hockey, gaming stations, billiards and music (from 7:00 to 10:00 pm) and basketball (7:45 to 9:15 pm) in the gymnasium are all available. Drop in for a fun night full of activities, time to chat, or just to hang out!

Supervised, safe and welcoming.
Snack and drinks available for purchase.

]]>http://justsayincaledon.com/free-youth-event-every-friday-night-bolton/feed/0David Arbuckle: New Kid on the Blockhttp://justsayincaledon.com/david-arbuckle-new-kid-block/
http://justsayincaledon.com/david-arbuckle-new-kid-block/#respondMon, 19 Feb 2018 01:00:26 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8958The idea for this series came about as the result of a simple question by one of Skid Crease’s Bolton neighbours. “I mean, what do these people on the Town staff really do?” he had inquired. So Skid decided to ask them. Here is the fifth in this series of interviews with the people who really run […]

]]>The idea for this series came about as the result of a simple question by one of Skid Crease’s Bolton neighbours. “I mean, what do these people on the Town staff really do?” he had inquired. So Skid decided to ask them.

Here is the fifth in this series of interviews with the people who really run the Town of Caledon.

David Arbuckle, General Manager of Strategic Initiatives

Although David Arbuckle may be new to the Town of Caledon’s administration team, he is certainly not new to bringing a passion for good governance to municipal affairs. Besides having been a consultant for the private sector, David has worked for both the Province of Ontario and the Region of Peel, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role in Caledon.

The Strategic Initiatives Department covers a wide variety of needs for the Town of Caledon, from Human Resources to Economic Development to Service Caledon. After three months on the job, David is still enthusiastic about his new role on the Town of Caledon’s administration team. David confessed that it was an interesting transition coming from the greater lake of the Province and the pond of Region into the local swimming hole of Caledon.

He said that one of the things that impressed him most was the Councillors’ passion to try to bring forward the specific needs of citizens in their local wards. He feels his job is to bring that passion to his team to best serve the residents of Caledon.

David noted that his biggest challenge thus far was to build a commonality of purpose with his team in Strategic Initiatives so that everyone was bringing the same quality message of service to residents and businesses. When I referred to the analogy of everyone paddling the canoe in the same direction, he smiled. “Exactly,” he said. And this applies as well to the workings of the Town’s administration.

As the new kid on the block, David feels that one of his greatest successes to date was being able to integrate smoothly into the senior management team. Honouring their perspectives while sharing his own honestly, and bringing his positivity to the group has only enhanced their effectiveness. Working with this highly qualified, energetic group of people has only amplified David’s passion for public service.

He said, “I have an almost unhealthy belief in public service. How can we always do the best for our residents?” He was very clear that developing a global vision for Caledon as we face the surging growth of the next ten years was a necessary challenge. David was thinking far beyond the implications of infrastructure pressures and housing demands and all the minutiae that can consume Town decisions.

He was thinking of the cultural impact as Caledon changes from an 1840’s farming heritage into a global village. “How do we voluntarily come together as a collective as we grow into an increasingly diverse community of the twenty-first century?”

I think we have found just the right person to help build a culture of exceptionality for Caledon as we bring all the pieces of the puzzle together – residents, agricultural landowners, business entrepreneurs, municipal staff, everyone – together in a common purpose: a respectful vision to provide the best possible services to our community.

]]>http://justsayincaledon.com/david-arbuckle-new-kid-block/feed/0Millcroft Inn seeks to add Conference Centre and 36 Guest Suiteshttp://justsayincaledon.com/millcroft-inn-seeks-add-conference-centre-36-guest-suites/
http://justsayincaledon.com/millcroft-inn-seeks-add-conference-centre-36-guest-suites/#respondThu, 15 Feb 2018 16:38:50 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8953The Town of Caledon has received the following development application: Notice of Applications Proposed Official Plan & Zoning By-law Amendments FILE NUMBER(S): POPA 17-03 & RZ 17-14 The Town has received Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for the property outlined below. This is your way to offer input and get involved. Applicant and […]

What are the Proposed Changes? The purpose of these applications is to permit an expansion to the existing Millcroft Inn and Conference Centre to include an additional wing of 36 guest suites and conference centre facilities. The Official Plan Amendment application proposes to redesignate the subject lands to a Rural Economic Development Area designation and the Zoning By-law Amendment application proposes to rezone the subject lands to an Open Space with Exceptions (OS-X) zone to facilitate the proposed development.

Additional Information: A copy of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments and additional information and material about the proposed applications will be available to the public at the Community Services, Planning and Development Department counter at Town Hall.

Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Please visit the Town’s website at www.caledon.ca/development or contact the Development Planner to obtain a copy of the location map.

Appeal Procedure: If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to The Corporation of the Town of Caledon before the proposed Official Plan and/or the Zoning By-law Amendment is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of The Corporation of the Town of Caledon to the Ontario Municipal Board. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting, or make written submissions to The Corporation of the Town of Caledon before the proposed Official Plan and/or the Zoning By-law Amendment is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to do so.

How to Stay Informed: If you wish to stay informed of the project described above, you must make a written request to the Clerk of the Town of Caledon, 6311 Old Church Road, Caledon, Ontario, L7C 1J6.

Accessibility: If you require an accessibility accommodation to access any materials related to this item in an alternate format, please contact Legislative Services by phone at 905-584-2272 x.2366 or via email at accessibility@caledon.ca.

Notice Date: February 15, 2018

Additional Information: Contact Brandon Ward, Senior Development Planner at the Town of Caledon, 905.584.2272 x.4283 or Brandon.ward@caledon.ca

The Region of Peel’s February 22, 2018 statutory Public Meetings regarding the draft Growth Management and Transportation Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPAs) are cancelled to allow staff time to review the Province’s February 9, 2018 decision not to proceed with the GTA West Corridor Environmental Assessment.

The Region will advise the public when the cancelled Public Meetings of Regional Council have been re-scheduled.

The public meetings provide the public with the opportunity to make representations regarding the draft Growth Management and Transportation Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPAs) pursuant to Subsection 17(15) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter P.13 as amended.

Mississauga and Caledon open houses have concluded. Brampton’s open house will be held on:

]]>http://justsayincaledon.com/peel-region-cancels-statutory-public-meeting/feed/0CVC Calls for Conservation Awards Nominationshttp://justsayincaledon.com/cvc-calls-conservation-awards-nominations/
http://justsayincaledon.com/cvc-calls-conservation-awards-nominations/#respondWed, 14 Feb 2018 21:38:27 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8946A new year brings a new look for Credit Valley Conservation’s (CVC) ‘Friends of the Credit’ Conservation Awards. The awards program, established more than 30 years ago, has eight new categories to recognize partners and community leaders contributing to meaningful environmental work across the Credit River Watershed. CVC is calling on the community to nominate […]

]]>A new year brings a new look for Credit Valley Conservation’s (CVC) ‘Friends of the Credit’ Conservation Awards. The awards program, established more than 30 years ago, has eight new categories to recognize partners and community leaders contributing to meaningful environmental work across the Credit River Watershed. CVC is calling on the community to nominate environmental champions by February 26.

“Our awards honour those who create connections between people and nature, knowledge and action,” said Mike Puddister, Deputy CAO and Director for Watershed Transformation. “The changes to the awards program truly reflect CVC’s vision and reflect our deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping our communities healthy and happy.”

CVC is seeking nominations for meaningful environmental projects in the Credit River Watershed. Nominees can be schools, community groups, landowners, business and individuals who go above and beyond to inspire change and protect nature for future generations.

The Conservation Awards program recognizes projects and initiatives that help protect, connect and sustain the Credit River Watershed. One nominee will receive an award in each of the following categories:

The nomination process is open until February 26, 2018 and submissions can be completed online through CVC’s website. The CVC Board of Directors reviews all nominations and makes the final award selection.

The awards program was established in 1986. It is an opportunity for the CVC Board of Directors to recognize those doing important and meaningful environmental work in the community. The new awards categories align with the priorities established in CVC’s new brand identity, launched in the fall of 2017. For more information about the awards program, including award descriptions and eligibility, visit cvc.ca/conservationawards

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is a local conservation authority established by the Ontario government in 1954 to protect, restore and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River Watershed. That watershed is the area of land defined by where all rainfall, snowmelt and runoff drains into lands and waters flowing into the Credit River. CVC creates connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. It inspires a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping people connected, healthy and happy. CVC is a member of Conservation Ontario.

]]>http://justsayincaledon.com/cvc-calls-conservation-awards-nominations/feed/0Local Winter Fun on Family Day!http://justsayincaledon.com/local-winter-fun-family-day/
http://justsayincaledon.com/local-winter-fun-family-day/#respondTue, 13 Feb 2018 21:47:02 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8940Celebrate Family Day in the great outdoors this year with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). Take a trip to Island Lake or Terra Cotta Conservation Areas on February 19 and enjoy a day of family fun. Island Lake Conservation Area offers a full lineup of activities. Try something new together like kicksledding or riding a fat […]

]]>Celebrate Family Day in the great outdoors this year with Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). Take a trip to Island Lake or Terra Cotta Conservation Areas on February 19 and enjoy a day of family fun.

Island Lake Conservation Area offers a full lineup of activities. Try something new together like kicksledding or riding a fat tire bike. Bring your skates and spend time on the rink and skating trail, or borrow a pair of snowshoes and hit the trails. Learn to ice fish with free demonstrations and tips for kids. Family Day is the last day of our annual ice fishing derby. Rods and huts are available.

Terra Cotta Conservation Area also has Family Day activities. Enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed trails. Visitors will receive 10 per cent off rentals throughout the day. Skating is also available on the rink and skating trail.

Both locations offer giant games, campfires and s’mores. Regular park admission fees apply. Park members enter for FREE! Dress for the weather and enjoy a full day of winter activities. Family Day activities are weather dependent. For parks conditions updates visit www.cvc.ca

For event details and to see our other great winter programs, including moonlight events, CVC’s annual Ice Fishing Derby and Skating after Dark, visit CVCevents.ca

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is a local conservation authority established by the Ontario government in 1954 to protect, restore and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River watershed. That watershed is the area of land defined by where all rainfall, snowmelt and runoff drains into lands and waters flowing into the Credit River. CVC creates connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. It inspires a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping people connected, healthy and happy. CVC is a member of Conservation Ontario.

]]>http://justsayincaledon.com/local-winter-fun-family-day/feed/0Caledon OPP Receive Report of a Fraudhttp://justsayincaledon.com/caledon-opp-receive-report-fraud/
http://justsayincaledon.com/caledon-opp-receive-report-fraud/#respondTue, 13 Feb 2018 20:36:51 +0000http://justsayincaledon.com/?p=8943On Thursday, February 8, 2018 members from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police received a report of a Fraud. Police were notified that the victim had received a phone call on February 7, 2018 from a male claiming to be a lawyer. The individual advised the victim that her daughter had been in […]

]]>On Thursday, February 8, 2018 members from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police received a report of a Fraud.

Police were notified that the victim had received a phone call on February 7, 2018 from a male claiming to be a lawyer. The individual advised the victim that her daughter had been in a motor vehicle collision in which she was at fault for. The caller advised the victim that money was required in order to relieve her daughter of charges. Subsequently, the victim made 2 payments of $10,000 and $7,000 to the caller.

Caledon OPP would like to notify the public not to send money to anyone you do not know and trust. Always verify a person’s identity before you take any steps to help. Remember, scammers are counting on the fact that you will want to act quickly to help your loved ones in an emergency.

It is important that you do not give out any personal information to someone over the phone- particularly if you do not know who is on the other end of the line. If you receive a similar phone call as this one, please investigate the matter before you act. Ask the person questions that only your loved one would be able to answer and contact other family/friends to verify the story.

Remember this golden rule: Never hand over money or personal information, or sign anything until you have done your homework and checked the credentials of whomever you are dealing with.